Carol Schleif

Education: B.S., business and equestrian science, William Woods University; CFA

Family: Steve, husband; three adult children; one stepchild; and two grandchildren going on three

Carol Schleif went from wanting to be a horse trainer to becoming fascinated with finance, guiding her to work in asset management and strategy. Her knack for analyzing data and seeing the big picture, paired with strong communication and writing skills, have served her well during her career.

What’s the biggest turning point in your career and how did that lead you to what you are doing today?

During the creation of Abbott Downing, we went from being a separate business of Wells Fargo to being more integrated. I learned a lot of good lessons from that, like change is constant. Keep in tune to the direction you think things are going and don’t be shy about grabbing the reins and saying how can I weigh in?

What are your job responsibilities today?

I continue to serve the clients I’ve had for decades, and I’m doing a lot of what I was doing as regional CIO but on a national level. I create and communicate the strategy of the Abbott Downing brand, and I have oversight of compliance and making sure that all regions are not just doing the right thing but have the right culture.

What’s your proudest community achievement?

When I was on the board at Gillette [Children’s Specialty Healthcare], we wanted to come up with a campaign for younger donors, so we created Laugh Out Loud Twin Cities. We did that for a few years, with Louie Anderson and David Spade and others. It was fun to see that launch. And I really enjoy being on the College of St. Benedict board. It’s very well-run and it promotes women’s education — that’s very impactful to me.

What’s the best advice you received from a mentor, and what’s your best advice to women entering your field?

Trust your gut and run the numbers. Don’t be swayed by talking heads. In other words, trust but verify. I also encourage people to embrace change. Don’t just take a seat at the table, but lean in and raise your hand.